Feb. 4, 2011
Is Peter Forsberg really going to return to the NHL?
The two-time Stanley Cup champion is now 37 and trying to make a comeback after three years. He has had several surgeries on his right foot and ankle.
Forsberg has been skating with the Colorado Avalanche.
"Right now the ball's in his court," Avalanche coach Joe Sacco told NHL.com. "He made it through our skate (Thursday) morning and he made it through practice (Wednesday). I thought (Thursday) he looked good again. He worked very hard.
"Peter's the only one who would be able to tell us really how he feels. It was a tough day for everybody (Wednesday). It was an intense practice. We had been off for a few days with the break and with (Tuesday's) postponement (in St. Louis).
"If you ask anybody, they were a little tired after the practice. For Peter, too. I thought he looked good (Wednesday). I thought he worked hard. When you work hard in a practice like that, you're going to get tired."
Forsberg, who didn't speak with reporters Thursday, seemed a bit discouraged after the difficult session Wednesday.
"If I had to make a decision today (Wednesday), it wouldn't be that positive, because (the pace of play) was quick," Forsberg told the Denver Post. "I've just got to keep skating for the next couple of days and then make a decision very quick. It's hard to make a decision after just three practices. I've got to keep on skating."
ANOTHER OUTDOOR GAME
The Winter Classic may be over this year, but the outdoor hockey games are not.
The NHL is holding the 2011 Tim Horton's NHL Heritage Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames at Calgary's McMahon Stadium on Feb 20 at 6 p.m. ET.
"It's history making," Flames coach Brent Sutter told calgaryflames.com. "It's great for the Flames organization. It's great for our fans and for everyone that supports the game, which there aren't too many people in Canada that don't because it is our culture.
"To see it being played outdoors is exciting. I know you can't do it very often, obviously, but to have the opportunity -- you relish it, you cherish it."
It's the first NHL regular-season outdoor game in Canada since the first Heritage Classic in Edmonton in 2003, when the Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadiens.
The game will be shown on CBC and RDS in Canada and VERSUS in the United States.
NEW LIGHTNING LOGO
The Tampa Bay Lightning showed off a new uniform design Monday, using models Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos, plus franchise founder Phil Esposito and former captain Dave Andreychuk.
The new home outfit is a blue sweater with blue pants, and a new Lightning bolt crest in a circle.
The road uniform is a white sweater with the Lightning crest and Tampa Bay written above it.
"When a player pulls on the Lightning sweater, we want him to know exactly who he represents and what the mark he is wearing stands for," general manager Steve Yzerman told NHL.com. "The long-term goal is for the Lightning to be an iconic franchise, rich in tradition with championship values and a strong legacy."
SABRES TO BE SOLD
On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres announced that Tom Golisano reached an agreement to sell the team to businessman Terry Pegula.
Golisano, who has owned the team for almost eight years, held a press conference Thursday.
"The very important thing to the city of Buffalo is that, by contract, Terry Pegula will be unable to ever move the team from the city of Buffalo," Golisano told NHL.com. "So we have secured its future for the city of Buffalo as far as the team remaining in the city of Buffalo. We thought that was very, very important."
Golisano said the closing should take place in the next 30 days, as long as the NHL's Board of Governors approves and a federal government application process is completed.
PENGUINS' MALKIN SET TO RETURN
Although the Pittsburgh Penguins are still without captain Sidney Crosby (concussion), they'll be getting Evgeni Malkin back Friday against the Sabres.
Malkin has missed four games with a knee injury and sinus infection.
The Penguins could use him after learning that center Mark Letestu will have to have surgery on his left knee and will miss four to six weeks.
As for Crosby, he is now cleared to begin light exercises.
"Sidney Crosby is going out of town for a few days to visit his parents," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma told NHL.com. "He continues his functional rehab and light exercises."
PREDATORS' TOOTOO CAN RETURN TO PRACTICE
The NHL and the NHL Players Association said Monday that forward Jordin Tootoo had entered the follow-up portion of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.
That means Tootoo can practice with the Nashville Predators as he continues outpatient care, but he cannot yet play in games or travel with the team on road trips.
Tootoo voluntarily entered an in-patient care program on Dec. 27.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro should stick to stopping pucks.
DiPietro attempted to fight with Penguins backup goaltender Brent Johnson. Johnson, 33, is a Farmington, Mich., native who has played for the Blues, Coyotes and Capitals in addition to the Penguins.
You can see the fight video here.
